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NEW ORLEANS -- Suspended Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has filed a defamation lawsuit against NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Saints Bounty Scandal
An NFL investigation found that the New Orleans Saints operated a bounty system rewarding between 22 and 27 players for hard hits and injuring opposing players. ESPN.com Topics brings you full coverage of this developing story. Profile »
The lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in New Orleans claims Goodell has made false statements about Vilma while discussing the NFL's bounty investigation of the New Orleans Saints.
"As I've said before..I NEVER PAID, NOR INTENDED TO PAY ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY,TO ANY PLAYER FOR INTENTIONALLY HURTING AN OPPONENT," Vilma posted on his Twitter account. "maybe this will get some people attention."
Goodell has said Vilma was a leader of the team's bounty program that put up thousands of dollars for bounties on opposing team's star players, including then-Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner and then-Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre during the 2009-10 playoffs.
Goodell also has suspended Vilma for the entire season. Vilma and three other players who received shorter suspensions all have appealed their punishments.
Vilma denies putting up money to knock any player out of a game.
His lawsuit asks for unspecified monetary damages.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
ESPN
I'm not sure if I wanna  or just 
Ridiculous.
Am I the only one that pronounces hyperbole "Hyper-bowl" instead of "hy-per-bo-le"?
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Absolutely ridiculous ... made even more ridiculous by the fact that Vilma refused to mount any kind of defense, or, IIRC, to even appear in regards to this matter.
Given that the Commissioner has just about absolute authority over these matter, granted him by the agreed upon collective bargaining agreement, I would guess that Vilma has the proverbial 2 chances, and slim don't play NFL football.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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Roger Goodell doesn't strike me as the kinda guy that would make the decisions he made about players and coaches without a sound set of facts that prove, beyond doubt, that they did what they are accused of.
He doesn't strike me as being dumb enough to try it.
I don't see sean payton appealing anything.. I don't see Williams appealing anything.. what's that say? do they know they are caught and to fight it would be futile?
I guess Fujita is appealing the decision, but no lawsuits that I've heard of.
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Peyton and Loomis (GM) actually did appeal.
Vilma requested time with the Commish, was granted it, then decided not to see him..
Am I the only one that pronounces hyperbole "Hyper-bowl" instead of "hy-per-bo-le"?
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Peyton and Loomis (GM) actually did appeal.
Vilma requested time with the Commish, was granted it, then decided not to see him..
Huh,, didn't know that Peyton and loomis appealed.. missed that. thanks
#GMSTRONG
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the reason for this suit is obvious. it is a leverage power play.
the NFLPA knows that Goodell and the NFL do not want to release all of the evidence that goes with this scandal because it's ugly. and they know that even if the court seals the information that is shared, it will be leaked (see Mitchell Report).
so, knowing all that, they think they can scare the NFL into reducing Vilma's sentence without ever having to go to court.
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Astounding. Hoping for some blowback or intimidation of Goodell and his position? Whole piles of corroborating hearsay. I don't see the leg any of the punished have available to stand on here; no grounds for appeal in my opinion. And consider what I call "The Greater Sin": This man is in a position to take action to guard and enhance the game. Where would NFL be if he had just taken a pass on this and done, well, precisely nothing, like the NFL will not condone and discourages all playersand clubs not to levy bounties or participate in any current scheme. Might argue severity of his decision but not his need to decide and to act. 
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
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the NFLPA knows that Goodell and the NFL do not want to release all of the evidence that goes with this scandal because it's ugly. and they know that even if the court seals the information that is shared, it will be leaked (see Mitchell Report).
I have to laugh at this "because it's ugly"...
Ugly for whom?
Obviously Vilma is not worried about it so it must be Goodell who is worried about the "ugliness".
This is so simple to solve...the NFL needs to show the evidence they used to justify suspending Vilma for a year...how hard can that be?
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Actually ..... Goodell acted within his powers and authority granted him by the CBA that was just ratified by the players. He gave Vilma a chance to appear and dispute the charges against him, after Vilma himself requested such an opportunity ...... and Vilma then decided not to appear. (as did Fujita and the others)
Goodell doesn't have to do a damn thing at this point. Goodell acted within his ascribed authority.
As far as Fujita, he has no leg to stand on whatsoever. The players found guilty were found guilty of running an unauthorized incentive program in addition to the bounty program. Fujita has admitted that he gave out money to players for exceptional plays. He's guilty, period. He has admitted his guilt in, at the very least, one major part of what he was accused of.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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it's ugly for all involved.
here's the thing that makes me mad with the NFLPA. it has no long-term vision. Vilma only cares about the next 2-3 years because that is his entire career. if he damages the NFL and hurts future players in the NFLPA, he doesn't care.
just like the NFLPA turned a blind eye to the older players until recently, and still refuse to turn a piece of their pie directly to the NFL-veteran's fund.
now, the NFLPA has a tough job. it has to balance the needs of the present players with the needs of the past and future players. but, instead of doing that, by their actions is seems they only serve the present. that is what is disturbing to me.
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nothing to solve. releasing the evidence only serves the court of public opinion.....something which i reckon goodell cares next to nothing about. just more fodder to keep the story running, which at this point is unneccessary. the season is upon us, and this is just a distraction.
simply grandstanding by the NFLPA....perhaps they should hire someone that could read, maybe they'd understand what the CBA actually means.
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Actually ..... Goodell acted within his powers and authority granted him by the CBA that was just ratified by the players.
Hey, the lawyers are in control of the case now. One of the first recommendations the NFLPA gave to the players involved before any punishment was handed down, was to lawyer up and Vilma did.
Plenty of issues that need to be sorted out by those paid the big bucks for their legal advice. The Senate may investigate the case...talk of the NFL violating anti trust laws, just for starters.
This is not any ordinary case and far from being over, even if Goodell wants it to be over.
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I have to laugh at this "because it's ugly"...
Ugly for whom?
Obviously Vilma is not worried about it so it must be Goodell who is worried about the "ugliness".
I would imagine you are right.. .Vilma is concerned about Vilma and getting back on the field.. and making his contract money... Goodell has to worry about the long term health and reputation of the league, so I'm sure dishing out all of the ugliness is of greater concern to Goodell.
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The CBA gives Goodell almost unlimited power in these cases.
Vilma has no case whatsoever.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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Quote:
Actually ..... Goodell acted within his powers and authority granted him by the CBA that was just ratified by the players.
Hey, the lawyers are in control of the case now. One of the first recommendations the NFLPA gave to the players involved before any punishment was handed down, was to lawyer up and Vilma did.
Plenty of issues that need to be sorted out by those paid the big bucks for their legal advice. The Senate may investigate the case...talk of the NFL violating anti trust laws, just for starters.
This is not any ordinary case and far from being over, even if Goodell wants it to be over.
How is the NFL violating antitrust laws in this instance?
I'm pretty sure the players were told to lawyer up for potential criminal charges, not to go on the civil offensive.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
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It's about the evidence...folks. Before filing the defamation lawsuit, Vilma's lawyer asked to see the evidence. Living in America, that doesn't seem like an unreasonable request. As this article states at the end, "With each passing day that the league fails to do that, the suspicion will only intensify."
Vilma’s lawyer calls NFL process “a kangaroo court”
Posted by Mike Florio on May 9, 2012
On Monday, lawyer Peter Ginsberg submitted a 17-point request to the NFL for information regarding the allegation that Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma was involved in a bounty program. On Tuesday, Ginsberg said he has heard nothing in response.
Ginsberg discussed the situation on WWL radio, and he used strong words to describe the league’s investigative process.
“The fact that we haven’t received a single piece of evidence from the Commissioner not only makes the whole process suspect but made it important that we ask the Commissioner as specifically as we possibly could what we think we should be able to see in order to even the playing field and in order to give Jonathan a fair hearing,” Ginsberg said, via Nakia Hogan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “And I must say that the Commissioner still hasn’t responded to this most recent request. This is not the first time we have asked them for the evidence.”
Ginberg also criticized the the league’s public comments regarding the situation.
“[A]s we have seen in the press the last few days that the Commissioner’s office and the Commissioner’s outside counsel have discernibly misrepresented even the information that the Commissioner has gathered,” Ginsberg said. “When you put that in the context of the Commissioner’s high-priced outside counsel saying that when we asked for evidence and when we wanted to know what we were answering to — and this is [outside counsel Mary Jo White's] quote ‘a red herring,’ it really puts into perspective the kangaroo court that Jonathan and the others have been subjected to.
“I can’t think of any other forum in the United States where this kind of abusive process is permitted. If you want to ask me why it is permitted, you are asking the wrong person. I wasn’t a part of the CBA negotiations. And I don’t think that the CBA as it stands permits this kind of abusive process.”
Ginsberg also reiterated his position (predictable as it may be) that Vilma is innocent of the charges. “What the Commissioner has said publicly, the accusations and allegations against Jonathan are not true,” Ginsberg said. “They are simply not accurate. . . . The evidence is not what the commissioner says it is,” he said. “At the end of the day, I think all of you will come to the conclusion that what the Commissioner has been accusing Jonathan and the others of doing is not correct. It’s not accurate. It was said publicly in an irresponsible manner. I think that’s why we haven’t received the evidence. And I think that’s the Commissioner’s biggest fear that at some point we will find the right forum that will make the Commissioner answer for what he’s said and what he’s done.”
The fact that the league has continued to refuse to produce raw evidence of guilt despite mounting questions as to its validity and/or existence will serve only to increase suspicion that the evidence isn’t what the league thinks it is — or that the evidence simply isn’t there. Amid growing indications that the coaches primarily were nailed for maintaining an illegal pay-for-performance program and lying about its existence but that there may not have been hard evidence of a bounty program, it’s critical that the league put some of its cards on the table.
With each passing day that the league fails to do that, the suspicion will only intensify.
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Vilma’s lawyer calls NFL process “a kangaroo court”
Naturally his lawyer is going to say stuff like that.. he has to...
Remember, Jimmy Dimora said he was innocent and his lawyer predicted he'd beat the charges also.. where's dimora now?
Let's see where it lands,. eventually, all the evidence will be a matter of public record..
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eventually, all the evidence will be a matter of public record..
My guess is this is the main reason he's suing... he wants to see the evidence... Goddelll wouldn't show him... this is his only way to see the evidence they have against him.
I don't blame him too much for suing... don't think he has a chance to win.
<><
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Part of me is glad he's suing and hopes he wins, because I don't like the direction Goodell is taking the league. These days, when a QB gets hit, you wait for the flag. Tackling a QB at, or below, the knees ... a harmless, inconsequential hand to the QB's helmet ... the "defense-less" receiver ... illegal blocks below the waist ... incidental helmet-to-helmet contact ... and an ongoing agenda to sanitize and make-safe a violent game are going to make the NFL unwatchable, IMO.
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The stupid thing is that he had the chance to see all of the evidence ...... then didn't show up.
This is all just grandstanding now. He got a severe sentence but didn't take the matter seriously at all until sentence was passed. Now he wants to whine about it.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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The stupid thing is that he had the chance to see all of the evidence ...... then didn't show up.
I'm not so sure thats correct. He had a chance to meet with the commish, that meeting probably entailed presenting his side of it. Thats NOT to say that the commish would have revealed the evidence against Vilma. Maybe and maybe not. The fact that Goddell has not revealed the evidence against kinda convinces me that Vilma would not have been able to confront the evidence.
If thats the case, If I were Vilma's lawyer I would have told him to skip the meeting, reveal nothing and sue Goodell to have the evidence shown in a controlled environment such as court or a discovery hearing.
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This is all just grandstanding now. He got a severe sentence but didn't take the matter seriously at all until sentence was passed. Now he wants to whine about it.
I'm not so sure about that either. IMO, Vilma has a good case for restraint of trade, and I think the court will agree. Goodell will have to counter with the evidence. If the evidence is Williams.. that opens a can of worms.
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The stupid thing is that he had the chance to see all of the evidence ...... then didn't show up.
This is all just grandstanding now. He got a severe sentence but didn't take the matter seriously at all until sentence was passed. Now he wants to whine about it.
IMO this is a game that Vilma is playing. he knows he's gotten caught. But he can hold up the NFL in court, costing it time and money and potential embarrasment.
So, the deal is, apply pressure to the league, then hope for a settlement that allows him to return after maybe a 4 or 5 game suspension.
I bet he's thinking, he'll drop the suit if they remove the 1 year suspension and replace it with a much shorter suspension..
If I'm right about this, I hope that Goodell holds his ground...
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j/c
I can see why Vilma would sue. I think that their is a possibility that the "bounty" program was overblown as well. I have always heard of stories of running backs or quarterbacks rewarding OL with meals or watches, and stuff for quality play......so big deal if defensive guys do it too.
Unless they can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that money was awarded for injuring other players, then I don't see the issue with guys adding incentives between one another for great defensive plays.
I would definitely take it to court if I was in JV shoes.
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The problem as I see it, is the Goodell may, and I emphasize, may have over-steped his bounds.
A commissioner (in the NFL) can act as judge jury and executioner, it is in the by-laws. He cannot make a statement that is false, without the libel claim, which is a civil lawsuit.
I think Vilma was smart to sue as a civil case. If he disagrees with the statement he has every right to know who made the claim. Sunshine is a wonderful disinfectant.
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j/c
I can see why Vilma would sue. I think that their is a possibility that the "bounty" program was overblown as well. I have always heard of stories of running backs or quarterbacks rewarding OL with meals or watches, and stuff for quality play......so big deal if defensive guys do it too.
Unless they can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that money was awarded for injuring other players, then I don't see the issue with guys adding incentives between one another for great defensive plays.
I would definitely take it to court if I was in JV shoes.
Oh heck, back in the mid 80s Marino did a commercial for Isotoner gloves that he gave to his linemen.. LOL there was a QB some time back that gave his line rolex watches. The idea was that it was a reward for protecting the QB.. not trying to take some guys head off. way way different
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So one side of the ball can reward players for good plays but the other side of the ball can't reward players for good plays...
I think that that is stupid.
Good play is good play no matter the side of the ball.....and making a great hit doesn't equate to intentionally trying to injure someone.....I think that the lawsuit is a good idea.
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The stupid thing is that he had the chance to see all of the evidence ...... then didn't show up.
This is all just grandstanding now. He got a severe sentence but didn't take the matter seriously at all until sentence was passed. Now he wants to whine about it.
YT...I'm glad to see that others challenged your post. I read it and immediately questioned your facts.
On the surface, it may have appeared to some that Vilma refused to take advantage of the opportunity to see the evidence but there were questions as to whether Goodell was going to show the evidence, even if Vilma showed up to meet with Goodell.
If Vilma and his lawyers were not assured by the commissioner that the evidence they asked to see was not going to be provided at the meeting, then why show up?...there was no reason to show up.
Mike Florio of PFT is a lawyer and has followed every move in this case...
...IMO, Florio appeared to support Goodell and the NFL in this case...but along about first week of May, when Vilma's lawyers were asking for assurances that Goodell was going to allow the evidence to be seen, if Vilma showed up at the commissioners office...
...Florio has done a 180 degree turn, supporting Vilma's right to see the evidence.
In a May 7 posting on PFT, Florio writes this...
..."Regardless, it’s only fair for the NFL to make the evidence available to Vilma, so that he can defend himself against the charges. Right or wrong, guilty or innocent, he deserves a chance to test the evidence against him, even if the man who made the decision to suspend him will also be handling the appeal of that decision."...
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Now there may be some who believe Goodell is more powerful than North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un and that there are no powers that trump Goodell's power as NFL commissioner, BUT, asking to see the evidence in a case where an employee of the company is about to forfeit millions of dollars and an entire year of his NFL career...it seems like a very legitimate request.
I look at this a simple case...if the NFL does have the evidence to back up their claims against the players...why not honor the request to show the evidence now, which would only strengthen the NFL's case against the players?
If Goodell and the NFL are not willing to take the opportunity to strengthen their case against Vilma and the other players, by showing they have the evidence to back up their charges...it might signal that the NFL does not have the evidence they claim.
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So one side of the ball can reward players for good plays but the other side of the ball can't reward players for good plays...
I think that that is stupid.
Good play is good play no matter the side of the ball.....and making a great hit doesn't equate to intentionally trying to injure someone.....I think that the lawsuit is a good idea.
Man,, I think you need a new dealer man,, the drugs your getting these days are reaking havoc on your thought process.
A QB rewarding his Oline for protecting him is WAY WAY WAY different than a coach or players rewarding a player for taking an opponents QB out of the game.
if you can't see that, then you have a serious problem.
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making a great hit doesn't equate to intentionally trying to injure someone.
I don't think the money was being paid out for players intentionally trying to injure the other players---I think that it was being paid out for making plays on the defensive side of the ball.
This is why I like what Vilma is doing with the lawsuit.....I want to see the evidence that these bounties were being paid out to people who were playing with the sole intent of injuring opposing players. I don't buy that---I think that bounties were being paid for great plays, and the media got a hold of this and skewed it.
Either way, let it come out in court.
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I don't think the money was being paid out for players intentionally trying to injure the other players
Then you haven't been paying attention. that is EXACTLY what the NFL has said happened.
the Goal was to knock a player out of the game..
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that is EXACTLY what the NFL has said happened.
And isn't the point of the lawsuit establishing exactly what proof the NFL has behind what it is saying.
I want to see the proof, so I am interested to see this lawsuit go through. I could easily see bounties going towards big defensive plays getting misrepresented by media types as bounties towards, "taking-out," opposing players.
I think that there is certainly a fine line between making a wr think twice about going over the middle with a solid legal hit and trying to knock a guy into next week. You could really even argue that a solid, legal tackle and a play that takes a player off the field for a few series can be the same thing.
I think that the NFL and the media may have taken some things out of context and painted this bounty thing as something more sinister than it actually is...
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And isn't the point of the lawsuit establishing exactly what proof the NFL has behind what it is saying.
yeah.. I wouldn't mind seeing the proof either. But again, Goodell isn't an idiot. He's gotta know that he can prove the allegations are true or handing out those kinda punishments is insane. Goodell isn't that freakin stupid
But that's not what you were saying.. you were trying to equat rewarding an offensive line for protecting a QB to putting a bounty on injuring guys.
There is no comparison.
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,458
Hall of Famer
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Re-read my posts...I never condone trying to hurt other players or equate a QB protection with bounties for injuring other players....
Never made any kind of statements like that.
I wish to wash my Irish wristwatch......
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 12,065
Legend
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OP
Legend
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 12,065 |
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King also explains that defensive end Anthony Hargrove can be heard saying, “Favre is out of the game! Favre is done! Favre is done!”
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During the 2009 NFC title game, which both sparked the league’s investigation and served as the most obvious example of assault and battery of an opposing quarterback, King writes that, after an unflagged high-low hit on Brett Favre resulted in a sprained ankle, an unnamed Saints defender was heard saying on an on-field microphone, “Pay me my money!”
PFT
Am I the only one that pronounces hyperbole "Hyper-bowl" instead of "hy-per-bo-le"?
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 42,960
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 42,960 |
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Re-read my posts...I never condone trying to hurt other players or equate a QB protection with bounties for injuring other players....
Never made any kind of statements like that.
In effect you did
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So one side of the ball can reward players for good plays but the other side of the ball can't reward players for good plays...
Good plays on Offense were rewarded by the QB to his line for protection.
This case talks about a reward for injuring players.. getting them injured so severely that they have to leave the game.
Now, you can question if there is proof.. I do also. But don't confuse what the issue is..
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 323
1st String
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1st String
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 323 |
well...from your favorite pft lawyer guy... May 4th, why would this be... Attached to the grievances filed by the NFLPA on Thursday are copies of the May 2 letters informing the four suspended players of their penalties. The letter to Jonathan Vilma from Commissioner Roger Goodell contains an interesting comment regarding the question of whether Vilma was given an opportunity to be heard before the one-year suspension was imposed. On that point, there have been conflicting accounts regarding whether the NFL indeed offered such an opportunity. “Your counsel contacted our office in mid-March to request an opportunity to be heard prior to a determination of discipline,” Goodell writes. “You were offered the opportunity to do so, which your counsel then declined.”Goodell also explains that the NFL asked the NFLPA to facilitate a meeting with Vilma, and that the NFLPA declined. Vilma’s ultimate decision not to meet with Goodell likely was driven by a broader legal strategy aimed at giving the NFL as little ammunition as possible for crafting the penalties. And that could help Vilma in whatever court or tribunal or forum his appeal is eventually heard. But it may not have been the best P.R. strategy, if Vilma truly is innocent. Regardless, the fact that Vilma’s lawyer initially wanted a meeting shows that the lawyer changed strategies in midstream — the next question is why? not enough? ok...try this one... so, why is waiving the right suddenly "having no opportunity" "On the matter of jurisdiction and Goodell’s status as the only NFL jury, it’s easy to agree with Vilma. It’s always been absurd that Goodell hears the appeals on any league punishment, but there’s one crucial problem: during the lockout, the NFL and NFLPA agreed on the current appeal process after lengthy collective bargaining. Sorry, NFLPA, you signed up for this. It’s also odd that Vilma’s lawyer is now campaigning for a fair and just process, because his client either waived, or more likely was ordered to waive his right to a key part in that process. Prior to the ruling on his suspension Vilma had an opportunity to meet with Goodell to both plead his case and possibly be presented with evidence, but he declined." so, whatever the reason vilma decided not to meet with goodel is inconsequential. if he was given no assurances about seeing the evidence, it was still his shot to dispute the finding PRIOR to the suspension. he cannot claim he had no shot to dispute the charges when he willfully declined an opportunity. no doubt the NFL is hiding something....and in many cases, its best not to know. goodell would easily release any information unless it hurt the brand, and he very well could be sitting on something that will lead to a bigger scandal. vilma's playing with fire it would seem. there's several videos already, is it really hard to believe vilma's on a video somewhere giving one of his many pep talks before the game, as a defensive captain? this is about challenging goodel despite the NFLPA signing the CBA that gives goodel this authority. they shouldn't have signed it and try to renig later....it seems these guys are missing a basic grade school education.
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DawgTalkers.net
Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Vilma sues Goodell for Defamation.
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